Captain Rhoades waited for a moment and then his gaze shifted and held. A quick glance showed Giff he had transferred his attention to Delia.
“The common element in this, Mr Giffard, is Miss Burloyne.” His eyes came back to Giff’s. “One might be pardoned for supposing the lady to be the intended target, rather than yourself, Mr Giffard. However, I find it hard to discover a single reason why that should be so.”
Giff could not withstand a harsh bark of laughter. “You have a point.”
“Well then?”
Damnation! He toyed with revealing the truth. Why in the world Delia had said as much as she had he could not imagine. Or, no, perhaps he could. If questioned in this fashion by Rhoades, she might well have thought it more prudent to speak the truth. He refused to believe she would try to force his hand.
“It seems to me, Mr Giffard,” pursued the captain, “that there is more than pure chance involved here.”
“Does it?”
The fellow was deuced persistent. Lord knew what he really thought was going on!
“Consider the facts, Mr Giffard. Miss Burloyne’s aunt is attacked on the road. Miss Burloyne escapes and is obliged to hide in the forest while these men hunt about for her. After the coach has gone, mark you. She is providentially found on the road, and rescued.” With question in his eye, he added, “By the Reverend Gaunt.”
A nod in the direction of Lady Matterson’s party acknowledged the rector’s presence. He paused, but Giff refused the invitation, if it was one. The captain resumed.
“Next, Miss Burloyne experiences the feeling she is being watched. Then she perceives two fellows in a boat while she and other ladies are bathing —”
“Does she, though?” This was news to Giff. Delia had not told him that bit. “Bathing where?”
“There is a beach reserved for ladies.” The captain’s mouth twisted. “Miss Watkinson swims there also.”
Giff could not forbear a grin. “Ah. No doubt she was voluble on the subject.”
Rhoades winced. “Very much so. But Miss Burloyne took me aside for the purpose of mentioning that she thought these men might be the very same who had committed the highway attack.”
A sliver of memory came into Giff’s head. When they’d met outside the church, had not Delia said something of this? He’d been too taken up with the notion of her and the captain becoming too well acquainted to give it much attention. Now he wished he’d listened more closely. He tried a nonchalant throw.
“Sounds like the work of an over-active imagination, if you ask me, sir.”
“So I thought at the time.” The captain’s gaze once more became steely. “However, Mr Giffard.”
Giff braced. “Yes?”
“It becomes difficult to maintain that stance when this attack occurs within a day of your arrival in the town. Prior to which, it is apparent no attempt had previously been made to do anything but observe Miss Burloyne. And yet this attack is carried out upon your person while you are in company with Miss Burloyne. A lady, mark you, with whom you are barely acquainted. Yet no qualm arises to stop you removing her from the vicinity of any sort of chaperonage. At which point, sir, two men, both known to Miss Burloyne, rush from the ruins with the express intention of clubbing you.”
Put like that, Giff found it hard to find an argument in refutation. He raised his brows. “Coincidence?”
A sceptical look came into the captain’s features. “I must beg you not to insult my intelligence, Mr Giffard.”
“Oh, you’re bright enough, Captain Rhoades, I’ll grant you that.” He eyed the man with a degree of speculation. “Perhaps a little too bright?”
An arrested look came into the other’s eyes. “Indeed?”
Giff lowered his voice. “It might be advantageous to meet elsewhere.” He glanced across to Delia’s party. “I am liable to be occupied for some time, I fear.” He touched his fingers to his face and winced. “And I must have my man see to these.”
“Tomorrow, Mr Giffard?”
Giff nodded. “My lodging, if you will. It’s a little removed from the centre and we may find a nearby tavern.”
Captain Rhoades got up. “Will noon suit?”
“Earlier. By noon I’ll be expected to make an appearance in this place. Ten o’clock. Or no, come at nine and take breakfast with me. We’ll be more private then.”
The invitation was graciously accepted. Giff gave the man his direction and the captain bowed and left him.